The Florida house District 72 faces a swarm of candidates rivalry, trying to leave an indelible mark in the state Legislature. The list of contenders has five remarkable names — all four Republicans show a promising political portfolio; however, the lone Democrat presence is hardly a standout. There’s Bill Conerly, Alyssa Gay, Richard Green, and Rich Tatem representing the Republicans’, with Lesa Miller filling the space from the Democrat’s side.
Former Rep. Tommy Gregory, a commendable Republican from Bradenton, unexpectedly vacated this seat towards the end of June to join State College of Florida as its president. This led to scramble of potential successors, swearing to preserve the Republican stronghold of District 72. It spans across eastern Manatee County up to northeastern Sarasota County, encompassing areas from South Bradenton to Myakka City and Duette.
Tommy Gregory’s legacy speaks volumes as he secured a whopping 66% of the vote in the 2022 election against Robert Dameus. As we inch closer to the primaries on August 20, it’s quite intriguing to see which Republican candidate will rise as the top contender against the lone Democrat, Miller. The early and mail-in voting procedures are already in process.
Taking a closer look at the contenders, Bill Conerly’s name surfaces. His twelve years of dedicated service on the Manatee County Planning Commission, including chairmanship, are commendably notable. Today, he’s serving as a project manager and vice president of the engineering firm Kimley-Horn, all with a glorious past in the U.S. Navy. Surprisingly, this is Conerly’s initiation into state office race.
Conerly exhibits commitment to key issues like decreasing home insurance premiums and putting a halt to illegal immigration. His campaign promises involve challenging insurance companies on big claims, preventing the ‘woke indoctrination’ of children, and taking an assertive stand against ‘Joe Biden, Bidenomics and inflation.’ According to his website, he has received a substantial sum of $132,900 in campaign contributions, while his expenditure stands at about $87,000.
Alyssa Gay, a proud Sarasota resident, and a lucky product of the AG Creative marketing consultancy wave—doesn’t lag. She credits her political growth to U.S. House Rep. Greg Steube, by whom she was aided when he was the representative for Florida’s 73rd House District. Like Conerly, this is her first venture into the campaign arena.
Gay emphasizes on important areas like reducing the cost of living, curbing illegal immigration, and strengthening workforce education initiatives. A native of Manatee County and a declared ‘pro-life conservative,’ Gay has thrown her weight behind Florida’s six-week abortion ban and sensible, controlled expansion. Her campaign funds have racked up over $56,000, composed of $34,500 in monetary contributions, $20,000 in loans, and $1,750 of non-cash contributions.
Richard Green’s candidacy is backed by his work as a senior attorney specializing in property, land development, and environmental cases for the St. Petersburg-based Lewis, Longman & Walker law firm. Green, a board member of Sarasota Medical Pregnancy Center, is a fervent advocate for pro-life care. Like Conerly and Gay, Green is also stepping into the campaign ring for the first time.
Unlike his Republican peers, Green displays a silent stance on illegal immigration. His campaign is built around addressing rising costs of living, environmental protection, and insurance reform. On declaring his support for Florida’s six-week abortion ban, Green noticeably dissented with the home rule during a May Republican candidate forum. He’s accumulated slightly more than $25,000 in campaign contributions.
Following Green on the list is Rich Tatem, a dedicated member of the School Board of Manatee County since 2022. Holding the post required him to surrender his seat if elected to the Legislature. Preceding his election, he devoted 30 years of service in the U.S. Air Force as a pilot, leadership educator, and assistant professor at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Like the other Republican candidates, this is his first plunge into state office race.
Tatem has centered his campaign on important nation concerns such as illegal immigration, inflation control, and regulated growth. Highlighting Gov. Ron DeSantis’ endorsement for his 2022 School Board bid, Tatem assured he would strengthen the governor’s education platform if elected. His campaign contributions are just over $64,500, with a little more than $21,000 in monetary contributions, $36,000 in loans, and almost $7,500 in non-cash contributions.
Lesa Miller, ironically a Manatee County resident and COO of Scout Comics, is trying her luck as the only Democrat candidate in the race. It’s her first-time venture into the political arena too, and lucky for her, she has no competition in the Democratic primary.
Miller, visibly on her own trail, supported Amendment 4, which aims to establish a constitutional right to abortion before fetal viability. Attempting to sign platforms similar to other candidates, she campaign promises include protection of local retirees and the environment. However, whether she’ll be able to sway the traditionally Republican-leaning district towards her policies remains to be seen.
Miller’s fund-raising for the campaign marginally crossed the $7,500 mark, exclusively composed of $5,500 in direct contributions and $2,000 in loans. Her total expenses hover around the $6,200 margin, which may seem comparably paltry to the Republicans’ but only time will tell how it will reflect on the election outcome.
As the election race heats up in Florida’s 72nd House District, it’s a spectacle to behold. Each candidate brings their unique platform to the table. Still, it’s evident that the Republican candidates, oriented towards handling major concerns such as illegal immigration, inflation, and insurance premiums, have an unmatched zeal and passion.